The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. The ATSB's function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport. The ATSB is Australia's prime agency for the independent investigation of civil aviation, rail and maritime accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies.

Independent investigation into the boiler explosions on board the Panamanian registered bulk carrier Shirane, off Newcastle, New South Wales, 2 April 2007

On the morning of 2 April 2007, the bulk carrier
Shirane was off Newcastle, New South Wales.

The ship's third engineer had been assigned the task of
replacing the auxiliary boiler burner with a clean spare unit. When
he had finished the job, he attempted to fire the burner to check
its operation but it failed to ignite. A few moments later, at
1013, while he was removing the burner to inspect it, there was an
explosion (flashback) from the boiler furnace.

The third engineer ran into engine control room and, as it was
clear to the chief engineer and the first engineer that he had been
burned, he was taken to the ship's hospital for first aid
treatment.

The master was informed and, shortly after 1015, he telephoned
the ship's agent in Newcastle and requested a medical
evacuation.

After purging the boiler furnace for about an hour, the chief
engineer and the second engineer removed the burner to inspect it.
A few moments later, there was another flashback from the boiler
furnace. The chief engineer, the second engineer and a fitter were
burned by the flashback.

The flashback had also caused a small fire on the deck, which
was quickly extinguished. The three men then went to the ship's
hospital for first aid treatment.

By 1324, a rescue helicopter had evacuated the second engineer,
the third engineer and the fitter from the ship and, at 1729, it
returned for the chief engineer.

As a result of the investigation, the boiler manufacturer and
the ship's management company have taken a number of safety
actions. The ATSB has also issued three safety advisory notices to
address the safety issues identified.